Regarding the 60 TMK for coyotes, how has it been performing for you? Has it been hard on pelts? I'm running the 60 TMK around 3300-3400 out of a 223 AI and have a hard time seeing the bullet not tear a golf ball (or bigger) sized exit hole.
223 Ar15 loads with 60gr bullets.
- Thread starter 46and2
- Start date
Longtrain
Gold $$ Contributor
I picked up a bunch of Sierra 60 grain TMK's for my 223AI, I have a lot of AA2460, which is a little faster then TAC and slower then AA2230. That powder/bullet combination had good velocity and accuracy. I'm sure that it would work for a straight 223. You don't see AA2460 too much, but it meters and performs well,
It was working great but shot a couple recently that had big exit wounds. I've been using my specialty pistols lately though, and shot one earlier today with a 20BR XP pistol that had a big exit with the 50 Berger. They all exit big sometimes...except for the 17's.
Since I started testing and using the 60 gr. TMK, it is becoming my go to bullet for coyote in a straight 223. I developed an 8208 load using CCI 450 primer and LC-01 brass, full length sized and COL set to 2.240 for the AR's. That particular load, unchanged, has been tested in 3 different AR's and 4 different bolt 223's, and has been extremely accurate with testing up to 300 yards. Chronographed through AR's, data shows approximately 2930 fps.
Half a dozen coyotes so far. Side chest shots pass through, with less than a "golf ball" size hole. Thumbhole size exits would be the norm. One shoulder shot did not exit other side, but almost. Head on shots, no exit. I have not tried them at "3300-3400" so can't comment on that.
Many of us (coyote hunters) have been worrying less about the damage, as it can be argued, with the present price of hides, it isn't worth skinning, sewing etc. Some trappers have given up altogether.
Jim
Jim--have it from pretty good source that fur may sell pretty good this year though nobody knows for sure. I'd have to say that the 60 and 69 TMK are my favorite bullets so far out of my AR for varmints especially coyotes. TRied the 53 Vmax, 65 sgk, 65 JLK LD and 73 eldm. Liked them all (although the 73 wouldn't shoot out of my 9T--woulda' been great probably as long as it worked terminally...and the 65 JLK although the most accurate bullet i've ever shot out of faster twist 22 barrels--not good terminally). Always thought the 53 would lose some energy at the the 500ish-yd. mark, relative to something bigger, especially when I had to shoot a badger 3 times to kill it at 450ish several years back. When the 60 came out I was praying it would shoot and it did! Great balance between weight, bc, and velocity...all IMO.
Oh and BTW Jim--i'm processing one as I type I got couple days ago with 2 big 20 cal exit holes in it and crap-smeared tail (Jeez)--probably just gonna tan it--just kills me to leave 'em lay.
Oh and BTW Jim--i'm processing one as I type I got couple days ago with 2 big 20 cal exit holes in it and crap-smeared tail (Jeez)--probably just gonna tan it--just kills me to leave 'em lay.
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Hi Steve,
We are skinning the better ones and freezing the hides until we see what happens. The others aren't going to waste. We have figured out a way to "recycle" them and take some pressure off the deer herd.
When you mentioned the crap-smeared tail, I had to laugh, as this year we have the absolute raunchiest smelling bunch of coyotes that I have ever experienced. Don't know what is going on. Had to use a musky rod the other day to pull one off the river ice, got him to the bank and for a moment, considered it should be a "catch and release".
Good hunting.
Jim
New Nosler load book #9 lists Benchmark as the most accurate powder tested. This powder works great on 50-60 grain bullets. Never had much luck with the Sierra accuracy loads.
My loads for 60 in a 9 twist or 8 twist
Varget
Lake city brass
CCI 450’s
Work up your own loads, that’s the great part of reloading. Nosler gives you the most accurate powder and they tell you the most accurate charge weight also.
My loads for 60 in a 9 twist or 8 twist
Varget
Lake city brass
CCI 450’s
Work up your own loads, that’s the great part of reloading. Nosler gives you the most accurate powder and they tell you the most accurate charge weight also.
I have been using 25.3 grains of RE-15 with Hornady 60 grain flat base hollow points. It's a compressed load. 2950 fps from a 26" barrel. 2850 fps from a 20" AR. 2.250" OAL.
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